After the grey day at Disneyland, the sunshine and heat returned for our final full day in the city of light. I couldn't wait to let the air into the apartment and gaze out on the square below, knowing that our holiday was drawing to a close.
I'd decided that a fitting first outing for my posh new handbag was wandering around the streets of Paris. It's far smaller than I'm used to, being a fan of oversized tote bags, but I've quickly discovered that I can actually get most of what I need into it. Not willing to repeat the journey's on the RER that we'd attempted on the first day, we called an Uber and enjoyed the 40 minute journey into the heart of Paris, at leisure.
We were dropped off at the Eiffel Tower. Little Miss had been so excited to see this particular landmark, although as she looked up to its summit high up in the clear blue sky all she could say was "looking up that high is making me dizzy".
 |
| Street artists around the Eiffel tower |
Indeed, we were right under the tower! We wandered around the grassy area, and large cordoned areas of people queueing to make the journey up to the top, and found a coffee wagon. A much needed coffee wagon, and a bench to sit and enjoy it.
Afterwards, we crossed the road away from the tower, and found there was a small street market taking place in the shadow of the tower. I was elated when the first stall we went to was selling beaded bracelets, and finally I managed to find a moonstone one to replace the one I had broken around a year ago! I've been lost without it, and I've scoured so many places to find a replacement, but no, I had to wait to go to France to find it! A bargain it was too at 10 Euro.
We sat down at one of the trestle tables and bought some sausage and frites for lunch, and fought the wasps for our cans of pop. Alas, I had to concede defeat when a large wasp plunged into my Sprite. Some of the wasps we encountered in France were scary. At least 3 of them were larger than a British hornet. Thankfully we all came off unscathed.
 |
| The Eiffel tower from the opposite side of the Seine |
 |
| First outing for my Balenciaga bag |
 |
| Musee d'Art Moderne de Paris |
After perusing more of the (mostly souvenirs) available at the street market, we carried on across the Seine on the Pont d'Lena and on the other side walked along in the general direction of the Champs Elysee, since the Arc du Triomphe was another one we wanted to show little miss. Passing multiple tourists, some performing daring feats to capture that all important well posed Instagram photo with the Eiffel tower in the background, we walked for what seemed like miles, looking in awe at the beautiful buildings that surrounded us. It reminded me why I do love Paris so much.
An all too enticing Paris street cafe beckoned us in for cold beers (and pop for little Miss) and people watching. A fabulous Parisian pastime. I spent my time trying to spot the true Parisians amongst the visitors, it was too easy though. The Parisians have a certain confident nonchalance as they bounce around the streets, that the majority of tourists (me included) most certainly don't exude. It made me wonder if I’m nonchalant when I’m at home, but I’m pretty sure it’s not a personality trait I have, wherever I may be.
After our respite, we carried on walking, finding ourselves on a wide road where people were pulling up outside of the Four Seasons Hotel in chauffeur driven Rolls Royces. Hermes and Goyard just across the street and Louis Vuitton at the top of the road. We went in all of the stores for a look. Then, we were on the Champs Elysee. The hustle and bustle of Paris all leading up to the beautiful Arc.
We crossed the road to settle ourselves at a gorgeous and typically French street cafe for dinner. I'd craved Beef bourginon the whole time I was in Paris, so I was thrilled to find it on the menu, and it was divine. An espresso martini for dessert and then we carried on walking towards the monument, stopping to take in the strange installation taking up a large swathe of the Champs Elysee which is a giant Louis Vuitton trunk. I couldn't even fit it all in the photo.
 |
| Enjoying dinner in a street cafe |
The sun was setting on our days adventures, so after some photos at the Arc du Triomphe it was time to order an Uber to take us back to the apartment to pack for our journey home the next day. It had been an amazing experience. It had been busy, but so much fun and Little Miss had thoroughly enjoyed her first trip to another country.
